Caught napping in Samba and alarmed by reports of renewed infiltration bids from across the border, central agencies are taking fresh steps to galvanise the security apparatus
NEW DELHIl: Caught napping in Samba and alarmed by reports of renewed infiltration bids from across the border, central agencies are taking fresh steps to galvanise the security apparatus to prevent Jaipur-like hits.
The fact that the infiltration in Samba by Pak-trained terrorists happened in a territory that is neither inhospitable nor inaccessible and is supposed to be well-guarded has sent alarm bells ringing in the home ministry. The Samba incursion followed a daylong bloody encounter on the outskirts of the border town.
A highly-placed home ministry source said the incident is “serious and worrying” due to Samba’s location and the coming assembly elections in J&K. It has warranted a fresh assessment of the anti-terror mechanism.
BSF director general AK Mitra, who had earlier claimed the Samba infiltration bid had been foiled, said on Friday there was “fresh evidence” that armed terrorists were establishing new launch pads to enter India. He not only corroborated the ministry’s fears but also confirmed the deployment of additional forces at vulnerable spots to thwart infiltration attempts.
The much-hyped Indo-Pak peace process seems to have made the security forces guarding the borders complacent. The home ministry source did not rule out the possibility of the BSF having lowered the guard in the face of a prolonged and rather incident-free ceasefire on the international border and the line of control.
Interestingly, the North Block, in consultation with other agencies, is also re-evaluating the situation in Pakistan. The role of the Pakistan army in the aftermath of an elected government taking over from president Pervez Musharraf is under close scrutiny. The violation of ceasefire on the Indo-Pak border and fresh infiltration attempts in the run-up to external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee’s Pakistan visit have convinced the security agencies that the Pakistan army still calls the shots.
The ministry has initiated an assessment of the security needs of all vital establishments. For the first time, key private sector establishments are also being brought under the ambit of the government’s security net.
Recently, the representatives of these establishments were briefed by security experts about the threat perception and the need to evolve a common security mechanism.
a_anil@dnaindia.net
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